Hikibaku Art Panel / Midnight Sun

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

This art panel makes use of hikibaku, a traditional technique that has supported Nishijin textiles for a long time.

The wabi and sabi of Japan is expressed by utilizing the property of silver to change color through sulfurization.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：500 years ago / 1500AD / Sengoku period in Japan

Nishijin-ori has evolved over a history of more than 550 years.
Among its many forms, Nishijin textiles woven with hikihaku—a type of luxurious metallic thread—have traditionally been used for the most exquisite obi sashes.

To create hikihaku, washi paper is first decorated with colored lacquer or gold leaf, then coated for durability.
Skilled artisans specializing in cutting techniques then slice the paper into threads as fine as approximately 0.3 millimeters.
Each thread is carefully hooked onto the loom one by one and woven into the fabric, a process that gives hikihaku its name—literally meaning “pulled foil.”

Would you like a more poetic or marketing-style version as well?

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Nishimura Shouten

Founded in 1924, the company began as a shop specializing in gold and silver threads as well as hikibaku (decorative foil).

In the 1960s, amid a surge in demand, the business shifted from general gold thread production to focus exclusively on hikibaku, growing into a large workshop with around 20 skilled artisans.
It was also during this period that the variety of hikibaku expanded—not only producing kin-muji-haku (solid gold foil sheets), but also developing new styles tailored to customer needs.

Today, we continue to explore the creative potential of hikibaku, crafting once-in-a-lifetime designs through a combination of diverse techniques and refined artistic sensibility.

Craftsman Passion

"Expanding the technique of hikibaku into various fields"

Thanks to the ingenuity and creativity of our predecessors, hikibaku has evolved into a technique with a rich variety of expressions.
We believe it is a material and method that can be applied not only to traditional Japanese attire, but also across a wide range of genres.

While continuing to share the unique beauty that only hikibaku can convey,we are also committed to nurturing the next generation of artisans involved in traditional industries.

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Width：25.7cm
Height：36.5cm
Depth：1.5cm
Weight：264g

Material & Caution

Materials

Silver leaf

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

This item is one of a kind. Orders will be cancelled if not in stock.